Hopegivers president released on interim bail, tension continues

Kota – Hopegivers International president, Dr. Samuel Thomas, has been granted interim bail by the Jaipur High Court and was released on May 2 after spending over 45 days in Kota Central Jail in Rajasthan, India.

Dr. Thomas was arrested from the outskirts of Delhi, March 16, at gunpoint by the Rajasthan police. Several other Emmanuel Mission staff members were also arrested on charges of publishing and distributing a controversial book called Haqiqat which allegedly contains material denigrating the Hindu spiritual leaders and gods and goddesses.

All throughout, Dr. Thomas and his father, Bishop M.A. Thomas, founder of Emmanuel Mission International (EMI) have vehemently denied having either written or published the book.

The Supreme Court, on April 21, had granted bail to Bishop Thomas who was in hiding for fear of his life.

While granting interim bail to Thomas, the state high court on May 1 asked him to reappear on August 1 for another hearing, Mohammad Akram, EMI's defence lawyer in Rajasthan, told Compass. The court granted interim bail in keeping with the Supreme Court's April 21 judgments that granted anticipatory bail to Bishop Thomas and bail to EMI administrator, V.S. Thomas, Akram said.

Though Hopegivers have welcomed the decision of the state high court, yet, they are still waiting on decisions from the courts for their licences and registration to be restored and for their bank accounts to be unfrozen in Rajasthan.

According to Akram, the irregularities charged by the Registrar of Societies of Kota district were "very minor" and did not deserve action as severe as cancellation of the registration.

"At the most, a fine of a small amount could have been demanded as punishment for such minor irregularities," he said.

According to Compass, hearings on charges against Dr. Thomas will be held on May 12 in two courts, the court of Additional Judicial Magistrate and the court of Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division Number 5 North).

"The case has not been dismissed," noted Hopegivers' Bill Bray. "But by giving him bail, it's a very good sign. It means that Dr. Sam will immediately be able to come out and comfort the staff and the children."

"The bank accounts have not been unfrozen yet. Our vehicles are still impounded," explained Bray. "We still don't have licenses to operate any of our schools, or the orphanages. They're all operating illegally."

According to Hopegivers, their troubles are the result of anti–Christian group attempting to shut down their work. However, that attempt may be backfiring, as Bray explained, "People are delivering food from all over India and bringing cash to the orphanages –other Christians, other Christian organizations, even Hindu organizations."

EMI operates under five registered societies: Emmanuel Bible Institute Samiti, Emmanuel Anath Ashram (Orphanage), Emmanuel School Society, Emmanuel Chikitsalaya (Hospital) Samiti, and Emmanuel Believers Fellowship. EMI leads a native church movement receiving aid from Columbus, Georgia–based Hopegivers International for humanitarian and educational work with over 10,000 children.